Hood latch



Sept. 2,1930. N. A. SMITH 1,

HOOD LATCH Filed Jan. 26, 1929 in I Patented Se t, 2,: 193g 1 *This invention relates to; catchegandmore especially to a catch ifor releasably holding the engine hood of an "automobilein closed 7 position.

it An bjejct ofithefinvention i sthefiirdvisioe of a catch especially adapted llfo'r use in holdingthelenginehood of an automobile closed,

1 7 this catch being so desigi'i'ed that itf isdisf posed upo" the interior 011 thehoodand thus f concealed from View when the hood 'is closed.

T -la qhf hbWWQLxiSPlYWMfi wi h. ns operable from the exterior of the'hood; for] t yrs as s' ffshsag nsi Wi fflis; o r o r it hood."

i i315 A iiotherf obj the} of hood latch as: described; in 'jwhich the operating means'fis in the form' of ao finger' j grip: extend- "-i'1 1'g 'thr0ugh an aperture infthe hood, and; a which requires onlythatit be liftedgto mov e the-catch torele'asingpositiomthecatch be} ing provided with means for "retaining the olt thereof out of engagement with the hood,

interior ofithe hood Astill further-object isgi va simple'an d inexpensive, nature, practically all the parts thereofv beingvconvenie'ntly' made from die out stampings, which is capable" of efficient operation, and which is adapted to securely hold the hood in=closed p Jsiti'on tOl preventfvibration"and rattling th'ereoiy Q i thoseenumerated, wil'l' be "set forth in the following description of the in'ventions particular embodiment I which is illustrated in the drawings accompanyingand 'forminga part of the specification Referring to the drawings: i

I Figure 1 is a perspect'ive iview of the radiator and engine hood of an automobile, the

hoool'being releasabl'y held closed by catches incorporating the features of myiinve ntioii Fig; 2 is an enlargedgvverti'c'al sectionalview ingth'catch in'released position. lhe plane that the hoo d may bedrawn awayfrom the 25 catch, andthen raised to permit accessto the H is the provision era catch of the generaliclass' described; which r The invention possesses other objects'and advantageous features, someofwhicmwith; v t I 7 t for movement longitudinally of-the frame 16 h by having an ear 23 on each side {there- "of, slidably disposed in one of thesiotsei;

taken-through the hood"catch,:and showi Fig; 3is a rear elevation, the direction of c View beingindicatedby the arrow 3 of Fig.2; 1

, Figp lis a view similar-to Fig.2, showiiig f section isindicatedbr the, 1in e 2 2o rig 3,'and the directionofviewabythearrows;

55, v the bolt of-the. catch movedfto hood eng'a gQ ing'posi-tion."

Fig; '5 is a horizontal sectionalyi ew taken upon; the lines 5+5 Fig. 4, with; the dr I r Fig 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken rection of yiew as indicated.

tionof viewas indicated. v

'bodiment of theinventiom itis herein shown p 11 thel in'e c' c or Fig. ig'with the puree 1 w ofanfautomobile 12',fto releasably engage the hood 13 thQrOftolmld the'hood lii closed fand againstwibr'ation' during operationflof 1 I the"automobile.-- QTh'e latch comprises a frame {or guide 16-pr-eferablyformed from an-steel stampingy and comprising side members .17; 1'

each of'iyhich'is provided with a-HangeilS at its lower end-ffThe frame 16 secured to jthesill 11in any convenient manner such f F as by. bolts 19 extending through the flanges 18 and the sill-11'; and it is to: be observed that the frame 16'is mounted inside or behind the hood 13,"whereas it has heretofore been.- 6 customary to mount these catches outside-the hood 18;

' i The frame 16 inclinesupwards toward e the hoodl3 as clearly. shown upon Figs Q" and 4, Each of the side bar-s17 of the ira'iiie V -16, isprovided with a longitudinally extend:

ing slot 21; and a spring seat 22 ,i-siguided vA coil spring 26 under com-prossion'between the spring'seat 22 and the top 27 of the frame 16, urges the spring seat '22 downwards'to- I Yward the Sill 11.1

; .A bolt 28 extends through the 'spfiri 26 and vthrough a slotv in the spring- 86M122? and 'a'pin QQextending through thebolt28 below the spring seat 22, couplesthe bolt and wards toward the silllll 4 i seat togetheigwith theiresult that the action 1 l 1 V K Thebolt 28 extends through a slot 31 in the top 2701 the frame 16, and its upper end is enlarged to provide a finger grip 32, an. aperture 33therethrough permitting the user to insert-his finger through the grip 32 'to facilitate moving the'bolt 28.

A shoulder 34 is formed on the backof the bolt 28 in such position that when the ,bolt 28-is raised and pivoted about the pin 29, toward the back ofthe slot 31, the shoulder 34 may be engaged upon the top 27 of the frame 16, to prevent the spring 26 from forcing the bolt 28 toward the sill Preferably the after portion of the top27 is inclined downwards slightly as at 36', t more'securely ment therefrom. a g The finger grip 32 extends through an aperture 41 formed in the hood 13, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that when the hold the bolt 28 against inadvertent displacebolt 28 is I moved downwards, a socket 42 1 formed inthe under surface of the finger grip 32 adjacent the intersection thereof, when the-body portion of the bolt 28 will be engaged upon that side 43 of the aperture 41 ,pronimal to the sill 11,. It is obvious that whenso disposed ,the force of the spring 26 i I will be imposed upon the hood, 13,,eXerting i resilient pressure thereupon, n01din itin closed position.

Preferably the aperture41 is of triangular i 'eonfiguration, the side 43 thereof being the 1 base 'with the apex 44 of tl1e trian 'le,;dis-

posed above the center of thebase ,The purpose of employing an aperture of this shape, is to facilitate moving the hood 13 during'closing thereof, so that the finger grips ---of the apertures 41 is reinforced by a plate 32 pass through the apertures 4'1,it being understood that preferably two catches are employedupon each side of the hood 13. Each 46 secured to the hood 13, as by rivets 47,

I with an aperture 48 therein in register with of longitudinal movement dining operation of the automobile, the-slot 31 in the top 27 of. the frame 16,.is wider than the thickness of the bolt 28, permitting a certain degree of lateral movement of the'bolt in respect to the frame 16. Thus when the hood 13 moves lon-- gitudinally, friction is not set up between the socket 42 and the lowermost edge-43 of each of theaperturcs 41, as would be the case if the bolt were not permittedthis lateral vibration. However, in order to insure that p the bolt 28 will be disposed centrally in respect to the frame 16 when, in released or elevated position, a guide 52 is provided on the after side of the housing 16 adjacent the top 27 thereof, this guide 52 being provided with a wedge-shaped notch 53 in a flange 54 thereof, which extends forwards over the top 27 in position to engage the bolt 28 as the bolt moves toward the back of the housing 16, and guide the bolt to the center of the housing, it being understood that when the bolt is thus positioned in the center of the housing, it will be automatically brought into register with its associated aperture 41, to facilitate passage of the finger grip 32 through the aperture while the hood is being closed.

The method of operation of the latch of the presentinvention, is substantially as follows: 1

Fig. 4 shows thelatch in engaging posi tion, i. e., in position to resiliently hold the hood down and impose spring tension thereupon toprevent vibration and rattling thereof. When it is desired to raise the hood to have access to the engine compartment, the operator inserts a finger through the aperture 33, and then lifts upward. Thevangularit'y of the finger grip 32 with the body of the bolt, will develop a component force resulting in swinging the bolt 28 inwards,

positioning the shoulder 34 upon the portion 36 of the top 27, so that when the operator releases the bolt 28, the spring 26 is not enabled to return the bolt to its lowermost extreme of movement. As a result, the force of the spring 26 is no longer imposed upon the hood 13, and the hood may then beraised by first drawing it outwards slightly to withdraw the finger grips 32 of both catches, from their respective apertures 41,'and.then lift ing the hood upwards. r V

V'Vhen it is desired to close the hood, the process is reversed, disposing the finger grips 32-through the apertures 41. Then, by inserting a finger into the aperture 33 of one of the bolts 28, the bolt 28 may be pulled forward, ren'ioving the shoulder 34 from the portion 36 of the frame 16, permitting the spring 26 to again force the bolt 28 toward the sill, until the socket 42 of the bolt'engages the lowermost edge 43 of the aperture 41. This, of course, is to be done with both catches, so, that the tension of'both springs 26, is imposed upon the hood 13 to resiliently press it down toward the sill and inwards,

pressing the hood firmly against the sides of the radiator and cowl. It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. A latch for a hood disposed adjacent a sill, comprising a frame secured to said sill behind the hood, a bolt slidably'mounted on said frame to reciprocate in a plane inclined to the plane of the hood when in closed able with that edgeoftheap I f the sill.

3. A latehfor a hood disposedladj acent a; apertureiin the hood, said aperture being dissill, comprising a -frame secured toisaid'sill jposediwith its 'e'ap'e'x uppermost andthe lower "behind' t-he hood,-a boltfslidably-mountedonslde -of 'theaperture bei'ng wider than said I said frame,a portiono sill, means urging-fthe bolt toward the sill,

' I in a plane incline 'when in closed position, a: finger grip With said bolt and'exte'nding through aniaperture inthehoodspaeed from itslower edgey m a 1 sill, comprising I Vbehind'the hood, a bolt slidably m ounted through an'aperture' in said hood,and means i sill, comprising a portion of said looltifextending po i through an aperture in'said hood-spaced from its lower edge, and means carried by the'bolt 2. A latch forahood disposed adj acent-a' a frame securedto said sill on said frame, a'portion' of-saidb'olt extend ing through an aperture'in said hood, and I means carried by the boltoptionallyengage erture proximal tothe sill, and means urging the bolt toward' f said boltextending I carried by the bolt optionally engageable".with that edge of the aperture proximal to the and releasable means 'forfholding said en- L A latch for fa-hood disposed adjacent} a a frame secured to said sill behind" the hood; said frame inclining up Wardsand outwards towardwsaidfhood, a bolt slidably mounted-on said frame to reciprocate, d'tojthe plane of the hood and a spring interposed betweensaid 'bolt and,

frame urging said finger gripdownwards'andl I I I inwards against the hood.

I gage-ablemeansmout of engagement ith-the I I 25 hood. 1 disposedwithin the I longitudinalsliding" -movement' and; lateral a finger p c ri r bysaid bolt, and extendingthrough anape I i l n S id d, and a springinterpose d be- I I "tweenisa d 'grip downwards against saidhood.

co a- 1 g tion in said frame, a,iinger; grip rigidxwitli bolt I and extending? through a said ing disposedwith its apex, uppermost" and I the lower side of the aperture being wider than saidilinger grip, andfa springinterposed b fingerIgr ip dow nwards against the hood. I '8. A latoh for ahood disposed'adjacent- 1' 1 .a sill, pcomprisingaqframeseeured to said sillbehind the hood,a bolt mounted for longi- I V a lfingerfgrip rigid with finger grip,a spring interposed between said" boltjand frame 7 A Wards against the hood, andmeans guiding vfthe bolt when; moved toreleasing? posi: ;ti on, into registerxWith .the'ce'nter-of .jsa'id! ap u V I I urging said finger grip down ;9.2A;h05 1- latch I I hood, aboltmounted for.

vibration in said guide,

hoo I I 7 bolt 1 and guide urging said "finger I nameto this "specification.

51A latch era llood" aS a-aaa: i i

a sill, comprising a] frame secured to'sa'id 1 "1' 1 I sillbehindthe'ho'od,a bolt slidably mount-cI" I ed .on saldframe, a Ifinger grip, rigi d with;

' 'saidbolt and extendingthrougha triangular i aperture in the hood, said aperture being disposed with its apex-uppermost and the lower a side of the aperture beingwider than said finger grip, and a spring interposed between sai downwards against the hood.

6. A'latch for a sill behind thehood, said frame inclining I upwards and outwards'toward saidhood, a a

bolt slidably mounted onzsaid'jframe," affinger; g a

isill, comprising a grip rigid with ,said'bolt andextending through a. triangulariaperture in the hood, l said aperture being disposedfwith its apex} uppermost and the lower side oftheaperture being wider than said finger; grip,fandha l, spring interposed between said bolt and, v I frame urging said finger grip downwards i'and inwardsagainst the hood. i

d bolt nd frame urging said fing p I a hood disposed adjacent V I I frame secured to said] I' lar aperture in the hood,- said aperture be-v,

etween said bolt and frame urging said;

"tudinal. sliding movement and lateral uibra gtion-in said-frame, I osaidbolt'and extending throughatriangularj I comprising ,abolt' guide I 96-"- "-I In testimony whereof I have signedfmy jiao, 

